Interpretive Toolkit

• Magnolia Bloom Tracker. Please note that this bloom information is only valid for these specific accessions and does not indicate overall blooming for each taxa in the Garden. In addition, for the purposes of this document, a tree is considered in bloom if there are any open flowers on it.

• Magnificent Magnolia Map (2023). This document is also available at https://www.sfbg.org/magnolias. 

  • Additional language maps will be available soon. 

  • Laminated copies will be available at Botanical Garden kiosks. 

  • Larger A-Frame style maps are located at the North Gate, Main Gate and in the Conifer Lawn. 

• Magnolias by the Numbers (2023). Coming soon

How to Sign up for an IS Table Shift

• Shifts are available on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 10 am - 1 pm. To register for this assignment, please visit your Volunteer Portal to register for an assignment.

  • This time window is designed to give you an opportunity to access the materials, set them up, and take them down within the 10 am - 1 pm window. 

• Two volunteer spots are posted for each assignment since it's ideal to set up and be at a station with a fellow volunteer. If for some reason you are unable to find a fellow volunteer to join you, you are welcome to lead the station by yourself if you feel comfortable with this. 

• Questions about registering for a spot? Please reach out to Crystal Lee Stone, Volunteer Program Manager. 

Accessing IS Table Materials:

• The IS table materials are found in Room 22 beside the Library Courtyard. 

  • Key Entry. To access Room 22, you’ll need a key that is in a magnetic key box located in the Library. Please lock the door as you're leaving and return the key to the box immediately after use - do not hold onto it during your shift.

• Materials in Room 22. IS station materials are stored on the middle shelf closest to the door. Look for a checklist of materials you’ll want to pack up, which is hanging from the shelf. 

• Folding Cart/Wagon. A folding cart/wagon should be located by the door, but if one is not, please take one of the ones behind you. Everything else you need should be on the center shelf with the Magnolia IS box. 

• Questions about accessing the IS Table Materials? Please reach out to Sarah Sawtelle, Engagement Manager.

Travel to Your Station Destination:

• Where should you set up your IS Table? You get to decide where to set up your station. 

  • Factors to consider include where magnolias are blooming, where visitor traffic flows, and where is an acceptable distance to take your cart. Choose the location that suits you well and on your way, stop by the Main Gate Kiosk to let them know where you're headed to. 

Setting up Your Station:

• Table: The station has a lightweight, folding camp table. Find a laminated copy of set-up instructions in the table bag, or review set-up instructions at the bottom of this document. Put the green tablecloth found in the table bag on top of the table.

• Station: Set up your table to be inviting! Include the “Explore Magnolias” sign, acrylic brochure holder, and magnolia parts. Place the plant materials on the outermost side of the table so it’s easy for visitors to reach and touch. 

• Visitor Engagment: Please remember to keep track of how many visitors you speak with, whether it is by pad and pencil, your phone or a counter. 

At the End of Your Assignment:

Please pack up your cart, roll back to Room 22, and return materials in the places you found them. Make sure the key is returned to the library before you depart and either share your visitor numbers with the Visitor Experience Staff at the Kiosk or update your Volunteer Portal with the numbers. Since there may be two of you interacting with visitors, please either combine the numbers in one total or share your separate numbers respectively. Check in with your fellow volunteer on how you plan to share the numbers and if you have any questions or trouble adding your numbers, reach out to Crystal. 

Thank you!

• Family Inclusive Language Guide

• Engaging with Intergenerational Groups with Younger Audiences at IS stations 

The station audience includes families, in fact kids may be the ones to bring adults over to you! 

Engaging kids engages adult family members as well: 

• adults appreciating engagement of child  

• adults responding to same experience as child 

• adults sharing experience with child 

Key things to think about when engaging with children: 

• ask good questions 

• leave space for their input and observations 

• support adults’ desire to engage as well  

Start with sensory exploration for all ages – invite to touch, smell, examine 

Then:

For kids at least 7-8 years old: compare/contrast, categorize

For older kids: Hypothesize, test, explain 

Good interpretation is always a conversation! 

• Close-ended questions – memory, yes or no, a specific right answer, best used when visitor knows the answer and you don’t! 

• Open-ended questions – allow all to participate, invite observation, sharing, imagination 

• Wait time – leave people time to process questions (3-5 seconds) before taking answers or giving explanations. No need to do all the talking 😊